them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God! 12 And they were all in amazement and perplexity, and said one to another, What can this mean? 13 But others, mocking, said, Surely these men are filled with sweet wine. 14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice, and said to them-Jews, and all you that sojourn in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and attend to my then sojourning in Jerusalem, were said, with much rhetorical propriety, to be "assembled from every nation under heaven." They were, however, all Jews. Not one Pagan partook of the honors or blessings of that day. 13. Full of sweet wine"--It should be sweet and not new wine. It was more inebriating, and therefore indicative of a love of wine, to drink it. It was too early in the season to have new wine. 14. Here commences Peter's celebrated discourse, and continues to the 36th verse. He repels the foul calumny that elicited his address to the public, and gives, as a reason, the hour of the day-9 o'clock in the morning; for with this hour, with us, agrees the third hour of the day in Jewish style. They compute from sunrise to sunset, twelve hours-from 6 to 7 being the first, and from 11 to 12 the twelfth hour of the day. On religious solemnities pious Jews neither eat nor drank till after morning service, and generally, on solemn feasts not till afternoon. Of this discourse we have a very brief synopsis. He arises to explain the miracle before them, and to correct a very unwarrantable explanation of the scene. He affirms that what they now saw was the accomplishment of an ancient prophecy, which he quotes from memory, not exactly in the words of either the Hebrew or the Greek text, but substantially the same. Probably the variations are intended to be explanatory of the original. He takes occasion from it to introduce Jesus, sustained as he was by "miracles, and wonders, and signs"--appeals to their knowledge of the facts -shows why God had permitted him to fall into the hands of his enemies, and that it was a matter previously declared by the Prophets that his enemies should kill him, and that God should raise him from the dead. He emphasises on his resurrection, and cites King David as intimating the certainty of it. After quoting and commenting on a passage from the 16th Psalm to that effect, he very strongly affirms it on his own knowledge, and offers himself and the eleven Apostles 15 words; for these men are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is but the third hour of the day but 16 this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel, "And it shall come to pass in the last days, says 17 God, I will pour out a portion of my Spirit upon all flesh; andy your sons and your daughters shall prophecy; and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall 18 dream dreams. Yes, in those days I will pour out of my Spirit upon my servants, and upon my handmaids; and they shall prophecy : 19 and I will give prodigies in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and a 20 cloud of smoke: the sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and illustrious day of the Lord standing by him, as living witnesses of its certainty. He next declares his ascension to heaven, his honorable reception there, and his having the promised gift of the dispensation of the Holy Spirit, of which the present scenes and miracles were undeniable proof. He farther quotes David, in the 110th Psalm, as his Son as the Supreme Head and High Priest intimating the coronation and consecration of of the Universe. From such premises he informs his audience and assures them of the fact, that God had made that same Jesus whom they crucified both Lord and Christ. Such are the outlines of this celebrated discourse, ending with the 36th verse. 17. "In the last days."-These were the times of the Messiah according to the Jewish expectation. "The last time," by the consent of all the Jewish doctors, are the days of the Messiah. Still the end of the Jewish state is specifically the subject here is the topic in the eye of the Prophet; and the events here connected with it justify their application of it. 17. "Your sons and your daughters shall prophecy"-i. e. speak by divine inspiration. So Schleusner, Koppe, and others make apparent. To prophecy sometimes means to predict future events-sometimes to celebrate the praise of God-and frequently to speak by divine inspiration. So Paul generally uses it in his letters. 25 21 come. by the declared counsel and fore- upon the earth beneath."-This doubtless refers to the prodigies and signs which preceded the destruction of Jerusalem; (such as, the flaming sword hanging over the city, and the fiery comet pointing down upon it for a year: the light that shone upon the temple and the altar, as if it had been noon-day; the opening of the great and heavy gate of the temple without hands; the voice heard from the most holy place, Let us depart from hence the admonition of Jesus, the son of Ananias, crying for seven years together, Woe, woe, woe! the vision of contending armies in the air, and of entrenchments thrown up against city there represented; the terrible thunderings and lightnings, and the dreadful earthquakes, which every one considered as portending some approaching evil.) All which, by the singular providence of God, are recorded by Josephus, (Bell. Jud. lib. vi. cap. 5. al. vii. 12. sec. 3, et liq. iv. cap. 4, al. 7. sec. 5,) in that history of his, the truth of which the Emperor Titus attested under his own hand. (See Joseph. Tit. sec. 65, p. 33. Havar.) And accordingly the greatest part of these circumstances are inserted in Tacitus, (Hist. lib. 5, cap, 13,) and happily preserved, though most of his account of the siege and destruction of Jerusalem be lost. 66 23. Determinate counsel and foreknoweldge" -common version. "Declared counsel and foreknowledge." The latter is certainly more intelligible and accurate than the former. The apostle adverts to the ancient predictions concerning Messiah's sufferings, such as those found in Psalm xxii. Isa. liii. But that all those sufferings were predetermined, is most certain for nothing can be more evident than that Jesus was the Lamb slain in type from the foundation of the world. Eternal life was promised before the world began; and, in the Jewish religion, on the basis of the sacrifices of Jesus Christ. Still these decrees or predeterminations of God did not in the least affect the moral character of the agents in this affair. They acted as much from themselves as though it had all been a contingency. Hence the Jews condemned, and the Gentiles with " wicked whom God has raised up, having loosed the pains of death, as it was impossible that he should be held under it. For David says, concerning him, "I have regarded the Lord as always before me; because he is at my right hand, 26 that I might not be moved: for this reason my heart is glad, and 27 my tongue exults; moreover, too, my flesh shall rest in hope that thou wilt not leave my soul in the unseen world, neither wilt thou permit thy Holy One to see cor28 ruption. Thou hast made me to know the ways of life; thou wilt make me full of joy with thy 29 countenance." Brethren, permit me to speak freely to you concerning the patriarch David; that he is both dead and buried, and his 30 sepulchre is among us to this day: therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn to him an oath, that of the fruit of his loins he would raise up the Messiah, to sit on his throne; he, foreseeing this, spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that his soul should not be left in the unseen world, nor his flesh see cor32 ruption. This Jesus, God has raised up, of which all we are 33 witnesses: being exalted, therefore, to the right hand of God, and having received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, he has shed forth this, which 31 36 Let, therefore, all the house of · Israel assuredly know, that God has made this Jesus, whom you have crucified, Lord and Messiah. and a royal ancestry-brought up by Joseph, a carpenter, in the town of Nazareth-after a life of perfect purity, holy, harmless, and undefiled 34 which you now see and hear. For David is not ascended into heaven, but he says, "The Lord said to my 35 Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, till I make thy foes thy footstool."-distinguished by the noblest deeds of piety and humanity, as numerous and as various as the days of his life; after being opposed, insulted, reprobated, times and ways without number, is finally condemned and crucified; but after an ignominious death and an humble sepulture, suddenly rises from the grave-identifies himself to his few true and faithful, though disconsolate friends ; and after numerous interviews for instruction and consolation, bids them an affectionate adieu-ascends to the heavens Father, has not only subjected all things to him, but made him the depositary and fountain of all spiritual influence. Out of his fulness we now all receive " grace on account of grace." 36. "Made him Lord and Messiah.”—| These are sublime indications. Jesus, the crucified on earth, the disallowed and repudiated of man, is constituted by God in heaven the supreme head of all authority and power made King of eternity and Ruler over angels and men. He is the anointed or christed High Priest of the celestial sanctuary after the order of Melchisedeck, wearing the crown and the mitre. This is a strange and new revolution in the universe. “A Son of Man"—"the Son of God"-rises to the supreme authority of the heavens and the earth--" angels, authorities, principalities, and powers, being subjected to him." On earth accused of blasphemy, "because being a man he made himself God;" accused, too, of treason against Cæsar, because he said that he was a King! God justifies him from these imputations, and recognizes him as infinitely worthy of all that he assumed. He is, indeed, superhuman and divine--the King not only of the Gentiles, but the King of the Universe. PRACTICAL THOUGHTS AND PETER'S SERMON. We have now heard that Peter, to whom the Lord in person gave the keys of the kingdom of heaven, prepared to open it to the Jews. This is the opening speech of the reign of grace. It announces the most transcendent facts ever announced on earth. It reveals the mysteries of Messiah's life, death, burial, and resurrection. It discloses secrets hid from ages and generations. The universe is now made to stand in a new attitude before us. A child born of an humble virgin, in Bethlehem of Judea-a person of great obscurity, though of a noble Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Founder of an everlasting age, the Prince of Peuce. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom to order it and to establish it with judgment and justice from henceforth, even for ever." -no effort to soften the heart by melting tones, gentle cadences, or an impassioned mannerism. There was sincerity, and there was gravity. A conciseness, benevolence, and solemnity, worthy of the occasion and the themes discussed, characterized every word and action. Such, at least, are the indications to my mind from all that is written, and from the question propounded to the apostles by the audience. The question propounded by the auditors, the answer to it, and the results, are next to be considered. A. C. CONSOLATION UNDER BEREAVEMENT. "In the word of God there is a balm for every wound." BELOVED CHRISTIAN FRIENDS, - In ap Nothing could have been more suitable to the occasion than the point to which the Apostle brought the subject. He desired to prove, in the most convincing manner, that God had constituted that same Jesus, whom they, as a nation, had most wickedly condemned and crucified, both Lord and Christ. This he did by a proper selection and application of the testimony of the national prophets, whose authority with his audience was paramount and supreme; also, by reasoning in a very proaching you in this way as a comforter, I clear, concise, and pointed manner on would plead as my apology, in the first place, the testimonials adduced; and then the deep and abiding sympathy that I feel in by a solemn declaration of his own your affliction, and also the plain commandpersonal knowledge and that of the ment which our Heavenly Father has given to eleven witnesses standing beside him, ther. He has laid this duty upon us, and he his children, that they should comfort one anoof the indubitable certainty of his re has given us the means of accomplishing it. surrection from the dead and ascen- "Comfort one another," he says, "with these sion to heaven. In all this he was words." Blessed be the Lord, for the holy sustained not only by the assent of word of his truth and grace! It is, indeed, the word of salvation to the lost, and of consohis fellow-apostles, but by the glow-lation to the afflicted. Yes, my dear friends, ing tongues of fire radiating from their persons, while their hallowed lips, touched with a live coal from God's own altar, in dialects not their own, but specially vouchsafed for the occasion, confirmed the message which he delivered. Never did words fall with more irresistible weight on human ears than did these "Let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made that same Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." This information pierced them to the heart. It was accompanied with the demonstration of the Holy Spirit and with power displayed before their eyes. This is a model-sermon. It was scripture, argument, and proof. No idle declamation-no pomp of speech in the word of God there is a balm for every wound inflicted in his providence, and I believe that there you have already found, and will continue to find, peace and comfort under your present painful bereavement. We are not forbidden to sorrow. Jesus wept at the grave of his departed friend, and groaned in spirit over the desolations of death at the recollection of his piety and worth. The tender sympathy that Jesus manifested with his discibefore us in a most interesting and consoling ples and friends at Bethany, places his character point of view. In reading the 11th chapter of John, we are forcibly reminded of certain passages in the Epistle to the Hebrews—the latter "For in that being illustrated by the former. he himself hath suffered being tried, he is able to succour them that are tried." And again, Seeing, then, that we have a great High Priest that is passed into the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession; for we have not a high priest who cannot be tonched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tried like as we are, yet with | replies, But faith without works is dead being alone." What a comfort that we can follow out this debate between hope and truth, and then arrive at the happy conclusion, that our departed sister is safe-safe for ever! "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth; yea, saith the Spirit, for they rest from their labors, and their works do follow them." out sin. Let us, therefore, come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." We are not, then, forbidden to sorrow, but we are exhorted to 66 sorrow not even as the others who have no hope." "The wicked is driven away in his wickedness, but the righteous has hope in his death." Jesus has indeed vanquished death, and brought life and incorruptibility to light (out of The grave may be compared to a Bank, those dark and mysterious promises and say- wherein we lay these precious jewels our friends, ings of holy men of old, contained in the Old that we may receive them again with interest. Testament Scriptures) by the gospel" by the For, as one star differeth from another star in truths which he has revealed as our Prophet | glory, so is it with the resurrection of the dead. by the work he has accomplished as our Priest What an amazing difference between the pre-and by the power with which he is invested sent and the resurrection body! How far will as our King. So that " If we believe that Je- | the latter exceed the former in glory, strength, sus died and rose again," we must believe also | and honor ! Who, then, would not cheerfully "that those who sleep in Jesus will God bring part with their sick and distressed friends— with him." Let us again look to Bethany for deliver them up, as it were, for awhile, to the the manner in which he who spake as never care and keeping of a faithful Creator, to be man spake, applied this subject for the comfort received back again for ever, with mortality put of the afflicted. Martha said unto Jesus, "Lord, off, and immortality put on? For "It is sown if thou hadst been here, my brother had not in corruption, it is raised in incorruption; it is died." Jesus saith unto her, "Thy brother sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is shall rise again." Martha saith unto him, “I sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is know that he shall rise again in the resurrec- sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual tion at the last day." Jesus saith unto her, body." Surely when this is done, the saying that I am the resurrection and the life: he that is written shall be brought to pass, DEATH believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall IS SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY! O death, he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth on where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy me shall never die. Believest thou this? | victory ? The sting of death is sin, and the How searching the question, and how noble strength of sin is the law; but thanks be to and proper the answer! And oh, may the God God, who giveth us the victory through our of all grace and consolation enable the present Lord Jesus Christ!" mourners in another Bethany-enable us all to say, “Yes, Lord, I believe that thou art the Messiah, the Son of God, which should come into the world." I am well aware that notwithstanding these great and precious truths and promises, that nature will oftentimes be ready to sink. The stroke which has fallen upon you, is in many respects a heavy one. If we feel it so much who have been acquainted with the excellences of our departed sister for only a few years, how much more you to whom she was so nearly related by the flesh and in the Lord, and have loved her from infancy. But these excellences - her amiability, liveliness, knowledge, faith, love, and piety-which, when contemplated in one point of view, seem to add bitterness to the cup of affliction: so, also, when viewed in another light, greatly sweeten it; for there are few who have left this world of whom it could be so confidently affirmed," they sleep in Jesus," Does hope say "We believe our friends are safe, for God is infinitely merciful ?" Truth replies, "Yes, but he is infinitely holy.” Does hope answer, "Jesus has shed his blood to make an atonement for sin, that God's holiness might remain inviolate while he justifies the ungodly?" Truth again replies, "Yes, but he justifies them only who believe in Jesus." Does hope continue, "But our friends believed in Jesus ?" Truth | | Your's affectionately, CORRESPONDENCE. D. L. BAPTISM A PERSONAL OBLIGATION. BELOVED BROTHER,-In your note on baptism in the October number, page 477, you say Baptism we understand to be a personal matter; therefore it must be left for every one to decide for himself how he stands before God." Now if this is acted upon, if I am not mistaken, it will destroy all the efforts of this Reformation; for, is it not the embodiment of the open communion principle? If a man regard himself as baptized, the congregation is to receive him, no matter what saith the Scripture on the subject. For baptism, being a personal duty, the congregation have nothing to do with it, every one deciding for himself how he stands before God." Now if all God's positive commands are personal, why did Samuel, the prophet, reprove Saul (1 Saml. xv. 10-35)? Had he not authority from God to do so? Certainly. And so had the congregation of Israel authority to see that the commands and institutions of Moses |